Jeff Peterson & Mālama ʻĀina

Jeff Peterson is an artist who lives in the heart of Hawaii’s music scene. He has been honored with eight Na Hoku Awards and contributed to more than one Grammy award-winning project. The World Premiere of his concert for Slack Key Guitar and Orchestra promises to be a highlight of the season.

This composition is the first concerto celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the great benefits the service has provided to preserve the ecosystem in Hawaii while allowing public access, appreciation, and education.

Slack Key Guitar is a tradition in Hawaii that traces its roots back to the 1830s, when Spanish and Mexican cowboys or vaqueros were brought to the Big Island to maintain a herd of cattle that grew out of four bulls and eight cows given by Captain George Vancouver to King Kamehameha the great in 1794. The Hawaiian cowboys or paniolo quickly learned the art of ranching and also developed an interest in guitar playing after hearing the vaqueros sing and play music. The paniolo created a unique system of tuning the guitar by ‘slacking’ the tuning keys and integrated the new sounds into the traditional songs and rhythms of Hawaiian Oli or chant. Bass, accompaniment, and melody could be played simultaneously with the extended range of the instrument, and tunings were developed to match different vocal registers. Over generations, families created and passed on an array of tunings that have become popular features of this tradition.

Maestro Carl St. Clair joins us as our guest conductor for a thrilling evening of music featuring Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont, Jeff Peterson’s Concerto for Slack Key Guitar and Orchestra, and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5.

Tickets: Jeff Peterson & Mālama ʻĀina, December 10 at 4:00 pm. Tickets range from $34 – $92, and are available online hisymphonyorchestra.org, by calling 94-MUSIC, visiting the HSO Box Office or through the Blaisdell box office. Performance is held at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Student & Military Discounts: $15 student rush tickets and $20 active-duty military tickets are available beginning Monday, December 4, with a valid ID (must purchase in person).